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Teenagers

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Original poster

Do most 11 year olds really have iPhone 14s?

126 replies

MaxwellCat · 05/07/2023 15:35

My son is starting secondary school in September. I was looking at getting him an iPhone but unsure of which one. I want something that is acceptable to not be made fun of (sorry but being realistic here) but not the latest as he is only 11. I asked on a Facebook group and a lot people were saying their 11 year olds had iPhone 14s and “all their friends do” the others were ranging from iPhone 11 and above which is still around £300 so would be on top of all his uniform and shoes etc. I wasn’t expecting to spend that much. Do most 11 year olds really have iPhone 14s? What phone does your 11/12 year old have for starting secondary school (only these ages please)

OP posts:
HappiDaze · 05/07/2023 16:00

No not even the wealthy DC here have the latest iPhones. Well some might but no one we know

Qilin · 05/07/2023 16:05

DD has always had an iPhone - dh and I do and we have Pads, MacBooks, etc so Apple made the most sense for us.

She did usually have a fairly new model as we didn't have an old one to pass down to her. DH's phone comes from his work. And she turned 11y the year after I got a phone, so we weren't in the 'right' replacement cycle to do it that way - many of her friends had a parent's old phone - so usually 2 years old as that's when most seem to replace them esp if on contracts.

So when younger DD usually had the model previous to what was the latest one out - as cheaper to get than a newer model.

FWIW DD always looked after her phones and the only damaged screen she had over the past 10 years wasn't caused by her being careless.

KitKateKat · 05/07/2023 16:06

Hi OP My DD(12) had an iPhoneSE in the year before she went to Secondary School and within a year she broke it completely - filmed herself from inside the microwave "what I look like when I am waiting for my food" and in doing this she totally fubar'd the phone (surprise, surprise). I did get her a replacement iPhone8 from Ebay around £120 ish at the time, and I used her money for the second one that was going to be her next lot of Premium Bonds (it's from the family allowance money anyway) so her sister got savings that month and she did not! They have both smashed screens (despite screen savers) smashed camera frontage and drop their phones ALL the time! I would not buy anything more modern than this, not even for Birthdays or Christmas! as they are not capable of looking after them properly.

Hollyhead · 05/07/2023 16:07

Mine had a refurbed SE. We might have gone for a cheaper phone but DH and I both have Apple and the family sharing is a useful feature.

Daisydu · 05/07/2023 16:07

My 13 year old has a I phone 12. She got it for Christmas though, I probably wouldn’t have got that one otherwise. Lots have an I phone 11, most of her friends have Samsungs

menope · 05/07/2023 16:08

I've no idea what his friends have. He's got an iPhone 7, I said if he can prove to me he can look after that he can get a newer one eventually. 2 years later he's now getting my old iPhone 11, he'll get my iPhone 14 when I upgrade in 2 years!

MyMachineAndMe · 05/07/2023 16:12

My 12 y old has a Samsung. It's not a to of the range one and it's quite old now but does what he needs it to.

My 10 y old has an ancient Google pixel that was top of the range but no longer is. Again, though, it does everything an iPhone would do.

WunWun · 05/07/2023 16:14

Mine has an Xr, her Dad's cast off.

hettiethehare · 05/07/2023 16:17

SEs here - DD got a new one but I discovered refurbished by the time I got DS's and there has been no difference in the quality - in fact DD's one is the one with a knackered battery!

gogomoto · 05/07/2023 16:19

Mine had Samsung always, didnt get good ones until going to university as a gift

floppybit · 05/07/2023 16:20

Haha no, they have refurbished iPhone SE and are fine with that . They are not bothered about the model, in fact my 16 year old preferred the simple models

MojoJojo71 · 05/07/2023 16:24

My DD will getting a 12 mini but that’s only because I’m due an upgrade so she’ll get my old one.

Blackcatisabitofapsycho · 05/07/2023 17:30

I have to admit this is where I find MN an outlier. On here, no one’s kids ever have a decent phone. In every secondary school I’ve ever worked in, the kids have better phones than staff! That said, it doesn’t have to be the latest latest model.

ZillionDayStreak · 05/07/2023 17:38

iPhone SE first generation (my old phone) for my Y7. She hasn’t mentioned anything about phones except that she would like more storage as she’s had to delete a load of videos.

MelonsOnSaleAgain · 05/07/2023 17:40

Mine has a refurb 12 mini

HappiDaze · 05/07/2023 17:42

iPhone 8 and below doesn't upgrade many apps so their a bit redundant now

HappiDaze · 05/07/2023 17:42

They're

Andanotherone01 · 05/07/2023 17:45

No. My DD has the newest SE model and is more than happy with that. I don’t know of any kids in her class who have an iPhone 14

ErnestCelendine · 05/07/2023 17:46

No, a Motorola here. Only used really for WhatsApp, spotify and YouTube shorts.

rigamortiz · 05/07/2023 17:46

I recently swapped my iPhone 7 for the newest iPhone mini. I can't tell the difference between the models, can other people?

LobsterCrab · 05/07/2023 17:47

Not my teens or their friends.

BeverlyHa · 05/07/2023 17:48

I Phones are out of fashion, Nokia is again the big brand

ArcticLadybird · 05/07/2023 17:48

MelonsOnSaleAgain · 05/07/2023 17:40

Mine has a refurb 12 mini

My 14yr old does, too. Wealthy area, only a couple of their peers have newer phones.

RoyKentFanclub · 05/07/2023 17:50

No of course not. My dc go to an independent school where there is a lot of money flying about. My 18 yo has an se and my 16 yo has my old 11.

EmmaPaella · 05/07/2023 17:50

I have no idea what mine have. An inherited 6S, I think.

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